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Sooo... played a show this past Friday, and in the heat of the moment dropped my guitar pretty hard on stage, busting the headstock up real bad. It's fixable, but as it is my only guitar, it's been made clear that I need a backup in times like this.

I can't afford a "real" LP, and current SGs are crap, IMO. I was looking at some Epi LPs, and they honestly seem pretty well made. They seem to often have that stigma similar to Squiers, as being crap, but I have no personal experience with them, so no real opinion in that regard.

What do you guys think of them? I'm thinking a PU and hardware upgrade would turn one of those into a pretty rad guitar. Also imagine I'd have to play a few before I found one that felt right.

Anything to look out for/avoid? should I avoid all together, or are there some gems out there?

Thanks.

(there's a link to the stuff I play in my sig, if that helps)

Obviously the low end ones are garbage but the higher end ones are pretty good.

Get a used LP Studio instead?
If you're going to go to the expense of replacing the pickups and hardware, you'll be in the same ballpark $$ wise unless you're planning to start with a really cheap EpiLP.

The Epi Goldtop models with Humbuckers or P90's are both very decent guitars for the money.

Guitar Center and Sam Ash and even smaller local stores usually have a good selection of the whole range of Epi LP's. I would suggest just going in and playing a bunch of them if you can.

I've also heard great things about Agile LP copies, but unfortunately you wouldn't be able to try those out beforehand.

it really depends on the model. the 56 goldtops with P90s are wonderful guitars; i haven't played a bad one. if you like P90s, stop right here. the Les Paul Customs can be quite good, but are variable and kind of bright. i have one that i like a lot for that late 70s Carlos Santana kind of sound. the newer Classic and Tribute models have better workmanship and pickups, often Gibbo PUs, than the mid- and lower-priced Epi LPs...you get what you pay for. that said, there are the odd mid-grade Epi LPs that kill, as is true of all inexpensive guitars. you just have to go out there and play three dozen of them.

Ever checked out Rondo music? I got an Agile, and I have two friends that have SX's, and they're all amazing. Actually, my 400 dollar Agile plays nicer than any Epiphone I've ever played. Though, it's a bit different, I'm just commenting on fit and finish.

Used Gibson Studios can be had like all day, erry day in the 500 dollar range for the faded finish. I'd do that tbh. I have one and I love it

Those Matsumoku made lawsuit era LP copies always look pretty killer to me. Electras and the like.

The QC on Epi's seems to be a crapshoot, but if you play a bunch you should be able to find one or two that're really solid for around 400.

exactly. the higher-priced ones are more consistent, and i've never played a bad example of the goldtop '56 P90 ones, which seem remarkably consistent from other folks' reports as well. otherwise, they're mass-market Chinese electric guitars: try your luck.

Crap.

Fuzzy Fred wrote:Used Gibson Studios can be had like all day, erry day in the 500 dollar range for the faded finish. I'd do that tbh. I have one and I love it

BOOM

Yeah, because Gibson's got vastly improved QC...


spoiler: they don't.

Always play a guitar before you buy one. Always!

If you can get a hold of an MIJ Epi, it would be worth a try.

I have a Standard and it's a very good guitar.